U.S. and Canada to Form "Smart Border"

Canada and the U.S. signed an agreement on Wednesday, December 12, 2001, to create a "smart border" between the two countries aimed at increasing security at the border while allowing for the free flow of people and goods.

As a result of increased security after the September 11 attacks, there have been long back-ups at the border which has affected the speedy transport of goods and parts across the border. On a normal day, approximately $1.3 billion goods cross the border every day between Canada and the U.S., with many U.S. factories dependent on daily deliveries of goods from Canada. According to the terms of the agreement, trucks with goods going between the two countries would be permitted to go into a "fast lane" after being pre-cleared and electronically sealed and avoid long delays at the border. This agreement also allows the suspended Nexus program to be re-started. The Nexus program allowed travelers who had been pre-approved to cross the border without delay.

This agreement comes after some concerns have been voiced in the U.S. regarding Canada’s immigration policies, which some U.S. officials view as being too flexible. In particular, some U.S. officials have concerns over Canada’s policy which allows refuges to remain free until their hearings unlike in the U.S. where refugess are held until their claims have been decided. In addition, because of its lax immigration policies, some U.S. officials are concerned Canada is an attractive country for terrorists and has been infiltrated by terrorist cells. Nabil al-Marahb, who is a suspect in the terrorist attacks, was arrested near Chicago for allegedly providing the hijackers in the attacks with false travel documents, lived in a Toronto suburb.

The U.S. and Canada have also agreed to coordinate on other aspects of border control and immigration policy. Earlier this month, they agreed to share information on high-risk applicants as well as use biometrics technology for fingerprints and eyes scans to make it harder for individuals who have changed their names or passports to come into either country undetected. In addition, the U.S. and Canada are compiling a list of countries for whose citizens the U.S. and Canada will both require visas for entry. They also agreed to put procedures into place to make it harder for refugee claimants turned away from one country to enter the other country to lodge an asylum claim to cut down on "asylum shopping".

Some in Canada have been critical of efforts to more closely align immigration polices as they feel Canada is giving up sovereignty solely due to U.S. security concerns. Canadian government officials disagree, arguing the security of Canada and the free flow of goods and people is Canada’s key concern.